Starbucks, ah. As I rush through the early hours, it’s my morning ritual, my little pick-me-up, and the carrier of my much-needed caffeine dose. I can’t even begin to count how many times that cup with the recognizable emblem has been by my side. The worst part, though, is that we’ve all grown to love and identify that logo. Did you know that it has a tiny secret? Yes, I was equally taken aback!

 

Before we get into the juicy part, let’s take a little step back and provide some details about the Starbucks story. Thus, tucked away in each cup is a siren, a character from mythology and sea stories that is evocative of the captivating figures seen in works such as Herman Melville’s epic, Moby Dick. And you know what? This literary classic is referenced in the Starbucks name itself.

 

 

 

 

Let’s move on to the development of this captivating logo. Since its modest origins, the Starbucks logo has experienced a significant change. Imagine that it began as a brown color in the past and then changed to the famous green sea in 1987. When Starbucks made its public debut in 1992, the logo received a stylish, contemporary makeover. But wait—2011 was the year that truly changed the game. At this point, “Starbucks Coffee” said goodbye to the logo and focused only on our siren’s face, which was now more symmetrical and…enigmatic.

 

 

 

 

This is where things become fascinating, though. The next time you’re enjoying a latte, pay more attention. The siren’s features have a subtle eccentricity that may not immediately catch your attention. My friends, it’s all in the asymmetry. Even though her face appears to be symmetrical, a closer look reveals a small tilt in the story: the right side of her face is slightly darker than the left.

 

Have you seen the little dip in her nose to the right? Or how, hidden in the shadow created by the bridge of her nose, her right eye appears to play hide-and-seek? This is because the Starbucks crew felt that it was too perfect and decided to add some humanity back in. They desired it to be more human-like and closer to people’s hearts.

 

 

 

 

These minor touches, which are so easily missed in the midst of our everyday routine, give the Starbucks experience more depth. Give the siren another look the next time you’re holding that hot cup of coffee and getting ready to face the day. In the center of Starbucks’ iconic embrace is a secret that has been whispered through the ages: there is more to her than meets the eye. Who would have thought that a morning coffee run could include such a captivating story?